New West Bengal BJP president: Samik Bhattacharya replaces Sukanta Majumdar; unanimously elected state chief
Bhattacharya, the lone nominee for the post, submitted his nomination on Wednesday at the BJP's Salt Lake office in Kolkata, accompanied by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and outgoing state chief Sukanta Majumdar.
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Bhattacharya, who flew in from New Delhi to file his nomination, had earlier met BJP national president JP Nadda on Monday at his residence in the capital.
'A party president changes, and the baton is handed over. It's a continuous process. The principles of the party remain the same,' Bhattacharya told reporters.
Bhattacharya, a seasoned BJP member for over four decades, began his political journey with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1971.
He served over ten years as state general secretary of the BJP's youth wing (BJYM) and was instrumental in maintaining coordination between the RSS and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), according to a senior BJP functionary.
His organisational credentials include serving three consecutive terms as BJP state general secretary and being part of the party's national council.
In 2014, he won the Basirhat assembly bypoll, securing the seat from the CPM and boosting BJP's vote share in the region from 4% in 2011 to 33.5%.
Known for his academic depth and calm demeanour, Bhattacharya earned wide respect as BJP's state spokesperson and often served as the party's crisis manager. He also played a prominent role in the party's global outreach during Operation Sindoor.
'Bhattacharya is well accepted by party veterans as well as the newcomers. He has constantly been working as a bridge between the old and the new. He has travelled to every district and has close contact with party workers.
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Even if it involved Dilip Ghosh or Sukanta Majumdar, Bhattacharya was always the person to resolve differences,' a Bengal BJP leader said.
During his political career, Bhattacharya has earned a reputation for his accessibility and simplicity. 'He is one of the very few party netas who still don't use personal guards,' said another party senior. However, with his elevation to state president, that may soon change.
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